Unique Holidays in Scotland for Free Spirits

Scottish Holidays by The Sea

If a holiday in Scotland at the beach hasn’t crossed your mind, you’ll be surprised at the number of locations you can visit. There are many miles of dramatic and beautiful coastline. Go east to find Fife’s Blue Flag beaches or head North West to watch white horses from the Atlantic, crash against rugged bays.

Along the Western Highland coastline, discover all the bays, coves, and islands among the Inner and Outer Hebrides, such as the Isle of Skye. Dumfries and Galloway in the south also provide adventures along sandy beaches. Some sit on the edge of ancient forests!

Volunteering Holidays in Scotland

A volunteering or conservation holiday in Scotland will give you new and memorable experiences. You’ll also be giving something back to a local community. Find a selection of volunteering breaks led by the National Trust for Scotland and choose to look after or monitor wildlife, such as breeding seabirds on a remote island. Or, if you’re passionate about conservation work, take up an archaeological, cultural, or woodland project to look after Scotland’s landscape and ancient heritage.

Outdoor Activity Holidays in Scotland

If you’re with a group, there are many adventures to have in Scotland’s wilderness. In winter, catch up with friends in the Cairngorms during a ski holiday. In summer, learn to kayak with family in the West Highlands. For a family activity holiday, include mountain biking, canoeing, geocaching, and wildlife watching, while learning about Scotland’s myths and legends. Whichever activity you decide on, follow all safety guidelines and wear/use the safety equipment provided. Luckily Free Spirit Travel Insurance includes over 100 activities for free.

However, if that sounds like too much excitement, improve your photography skills by immersing yourself in a photography holiday in Scotland. Drive around the Inner Hebrides and stop to capture nature with your camera (or with your phone!). When it is time to rest and refuel there are plenty of fantastic hotels to choose from, some with opportunities to indulge in award-winning cuisine.

To purchase some of Scotland’s best produce meet award-winning Scottish producers at Edinburgh’s Farmer’s Market on Saturdays who’ll be happy to share where it’s been sourced and made. Try seasonal vegetables, rich cheeses, and local venison. Then find yourself some Cranachan. This traditional Scottish dessert is made from oats, cream, whisky, and raspberries.

Think another Scottish tradition is regularly eating a plate of haggis with neeps and tatties? Think again! Scotland’s national dish may appear on many menus but they just want you to try it! So start with some haggis bites.

See the Northern Lights!

To see the magic of the skies, visit Scotland between December and February. The Orkney Isles is said to be one of the best places to watch the Northern Lights. However, when the sky is clear and dark, you may also catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis in Shetland, on the Moray Coast, as well as The Isle of Skye.

The Isle of Skye is a great option because it has nine Dark Sky Discovery Sites. For instance, you could spend the day exploring Duntulm Castle and Talisker Distillery before watching the Milky Way with a dram of whisky. If you love astronomy you could book a dark sky holiday in Scotland to go stargazing and visit the Galloway Forest Park in Dumfries. While away, keep an eye on the Aurora Watch UK website. You may be lucky enough to be there when the aurora is active.

Keep some binoculars on hand for an Astro adventure in Scotland! We now have more opportunities to see the aurora until 2028. From 2024 there’s been an increase in solar activity and eruptions from the sun, including solar flares that bring big bursts of energy into space.

Hiking and Walking Holidays in Scotland

In a previous walking holidays blog, we referred to The West Highland Way as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, for a walking holiday that isn’t as challenging, hike along a section of the Great Glen Way, which runs from Fort William to Inverness. By following the Caledonian Canal and forest tracks you can rest at Loch Lochy with a picnic and look out for the famous, mythical monster at Lock Ness.

The Abriachan Eco Campsite Cafe is the highest inhabited croft in Scotland. Also, there’s a selection of great pubs and Inns to stay in along the Great Glen Way. Where better to rest after a day’s walking, perhaps with a hot toddy in hand, next to a roaring fire?

Holidays in Scotland for you and your dog

A Scottish dog walking holiday can be relished by walking across Scotland’s vivid landscapes. Take your pick! Try a low-level 3-mile walk around Loch an Eilein or find an established footpath, along the Scottish National Trail. For easy walking follow the section through the Borders and along the canal towpaths.

For something more challenging, plan for a trek down the Cape Wrath Trail – Scotland’s wild north. Remember that Free Spirit’s Activity Pack 2 will cover hiking, mountain walking, or trekking up to 2,000m but you’ll need to complete it while in an organised group.

Scotland Golf Holidays

It shouldn’t be a surprise that there are over 550 golf courses in Scotland. Golf derived in Scotland from a game played along the eastern coast. After King James IV of Scotland became the first golfing monarch (1502), golf grew in popularity. Today, the best months to play golf in Scotland are April, May, and June. One of the oldest courses in the world is Musselburgh Links, in East Lothian.

Coupled with some time spent at the spa after a round or two a golf holiday can be one of the more healthy and relaxing trip choices.

Horse riding holidays in Scotland

Escape into Scotland’s dramatic scenery on horseback, during a horse care or trail riding holiday. If you’re a beginner, spend a few days learning how to look after and groom a horse. You can also book a riding lesson. Then trot among the Glens in Crieff, Perthshire, or across the Red Point beaches on the Western Isles. For those more experienced, spend a week exploring the trails of Knoydart, West Highlands, or the Mull of  Kintyre. Here the terrain is diverse and a good level of fitness will be required.

Like any holiday, it’s your choice when it comes to travelling there and back again.  If you live in northern England, you might be happy jumping in the car to begin a self-drive holiday in Scotland where can explore secret sights. Why not explore some off-the-beaten-track locations? However, if you live further away, it might be easier to get there by booking a coach, train, or travel by air.

When travelling from the south of the UK, make your way to London before booking a direct flight to one of Scotland’s major cities. A flight from London to Edinburgh will take between 60-90 minutes. You can also fly direct to Glasgow. To commence your holiday in the Scottish Highlands, take a flight to Inverness or Aberdeen. If you choose to fly, most destinations are served by Loganair.

You can also travel to Scotland by train from Birmingham or London Euston.

Train fans may wish to experience a swift overnight journey (and top hospitality) by boarding the Caledonian Sleeper train at bedtime from Euston. You can choose to wake in several of Scotland’s biggest cities from Glasgow to Inverness after a hearty Scottish breakfast served in the dining carriage.

On the other hand, plan a Scotland holiday on the rail by checking out one of Scotland’s Great  Scenic Rail Journeys. 2025 has been named the year of the train because it’s 200 years since the start of rail travel. So, look out for some rail-related events around Scotland too!